EVALUATION OF ALTERNATIVE FIBERS TO REPLACE NARC-RAYON FOR THE PRODUCTION OF CBCF
A unique Carbon Bonded Carbon Fiber (CBCF) insulation was developed to provide thermal protection to the isotopic fuel in Radioisotope Power Systems. The microstructure of CBCF is comprised of chopped and carbonized rayon fibers bonded at intersections by carbonized phenolic resin. Production of CBCF insulation at ORNL has been sustained for the past three decades by a single lot of rayon purchased from North American Rayon Corporation (NARC) of Elizabethton, TN in 1987. NARC ceased operations in 1996. Although ORNL has a seven-to-ten-year supply of rayon at the current rate of consumption, an effort has been initiated to identify a new source to meet long-range needs. A summary of findings from the ongoing search for a fiber to replace NARC rayon for production of CBCF is presented.
- Research Organization:
- Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC05-00OR22725
- OSTI ID:
- 1561668
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: Nuclear and Emerging Technologies for Space (NETS 2019) - Richland, Washington, United States of America - 2/25/2019 10:00:00 AM-2/28/2019 10:00:00 AM
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Carbon-bonded carbon fiber insulation for radioisotope space power systems
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